Vaginal seal



Oct. .17, 1939. L. w. CHALMERS VAGINAL SEAL Filed April 2, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet J,

InaeRZZI'.

Oct. .17, 1939.

L. w. CHALMERS 2.176.391

VAGINAL Sm.-

Filed April 2, 1-935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 2,

6 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to vaginal seals for douche sprays andnozzles adapted for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of the femalesex organs.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a seal designed toconform to the anatomical structure of the vaginal region in such amanner that the treating solution will be so efficiently retained thatthorough distension of the vaginal vault will be insured by and undersuch pressure of the solution as may be applied by the draining thereoffrom an elevated container or by use of a hand bulb, whereby flushing ofthe entire vaginal mucosa including the folds, furrows and formices iseffectively accomplished.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a seal of the type abovenoted which may be used with either a permanently attached nozzle orwith a relatively adjustable nozzle, by which in the latter case. thetreating fluid may be applied at any point inwardly between the mouth ofthe vagina and the cervix of the uterus whereby, in particularlysensitive cases, as inflammation gradually diminishes as a result ofsuccessive treatments, the discharge end of the nozzle may be graduallyinserted to a greater extent until the cervix is reached.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge outlet throughthe diaphragm or flange of the seal at a point rearwardly of ordownwardly from the inlet as normally used with the subject in anupright, knee-chest, or reclining position, whereby the discharge orreturn flow will be carried away from the device in a manner to avoidinterference with the efiicient operation of the nozzle.

Another object of the invention is to construct the seal with arelatively firm though yieldable elliptical flange around a centralconvexed dome or concavo-convex diaphragm, with the flange at the longeraxis of the ellipse having a lesser de gree of flexibility than at theshorter axis of the ellipse, whereby the flange of the seal will be madeto conform more readily to the curvature of the body in the regionsurrounding the external orifice of the vagina for retaining theconvexed dome or diaphragm in position to function as a closure for theexternal orifice of the vagina and to form an additional seal aroundsaid orifice for eifecting the above noted ellicient retention of thetreating solution.

Another object of the invention is to provide the seal with a relativelydeep channel inwardly adjacent the marginal flange of the device forcreating a retaining vacuum between the device 1935, Serial No. 14,351

(Cl. l28-251) and the entrance of the vagina, whereby the escape of thesolution is frustrated.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device with thelongitudinal axis of the integral nozzle or the nozzle opening for theadjustable nozzle disposed at a declining angle to the base plane of theseal, and to make the diaphragm in the region surrounding the nozzle orthe nozzle opening of such a soft resilient character as will permit ofthe nozzle following and assuming the natural course or angle of thevagina while permitting the flange of the seal to be seated firmly anduniformly about the mouth of the vagina, without causing the nozzle tobear with any 0bthe vagina or causing any one part of the flange to bepressed more deeply into the flesh than. any other part.

The construction of the device will be fully disclosed hereinafter,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the seal with a permanentlyattached or integral nozzle as being used on a patient in a recliningposition, with the treating solution being drawn from a relativelyelevated container and the discharge or return flow disposed below thenozzle inlet;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating the seal as beingused with a relatively adjustable nozzle equipped with a hand bulb;

Fig. 4 is a face view of the seal shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the seal as illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the seal shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line '|--l,Fig. 4.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, the seal I comprises a central bodyportion 2 and a surrounding flange 3. The diametrically opposed endportions 4, 4 of said flange disposed on the longer axis of the ellipseare relatively broader and thicker than the diametrically opposed sideportions 5 5 disposed on and adjacent the shorter axis of the ellipse.The inner edge 6 of the flange, from the ends 4, 4 through the sides 5,5 thereof is disposed substantially on an arc of a circle, the center ofwhich is located in a plane perpendicular to the base plane 8 of theseal and substantially coincident with the plane of the shorter axis ofthe ellipse.

Immediately adjacent and inwardly disposed jectionable degree ofpressure against the wall of l5 the length of the longer axis of theseal.

.edge 1 of the flange is pressed into the fiesh of with respect to theflange 3, the seal I is provided with a relatively deep ellipticalchannel 9, the base 9a of which is disposed substantially midway betweenthe inner edge 6 of the fiange 3 and the base plane 8 of the seal,uniformly throughout As the the subject adjacent the mouth of thevagina, the channel 9 receives the lips of the vagina and provides moreor less of a suction action between the seal and the flesh which causesthe seal to adhere firmly to the fiesh, effectively creating a sealaround the mouth of the vagina which frustrates shown).

the escape of the treating solution. 7 v 7 Inwardly of and immediatelyadjacent the elliptical channel 9, the seal is provided with avrelatively thin soft pliable diaphragm or wall I0, at substantially thecenter of which is dis posed either the permanently attached nozzle II,shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or a nozzle-receiving opening I2, as shown inFigs. 3 to '7, for the reception of the relatively adjustable nozzle IId. In either case, the nozzle is of a rather rigid construction as toprovide for its being readily inserted in the vaginal canal.

In the case of the adjustable nozzle, the central portion of thediaphragm i8, around the nozzle opening 52, is rounded outwardly withrespect to the base 8 of the seal in a concave-convex form for seatingfirmly in the mouth of the vagina, and in the concaved side thereof isprovided with a centrally located boss IS in and through which thenozzle opening [2 is formed.

The opening [2 provides an axial sliding bearing for the adjustablenozzle Ma. The nozzleencircling outer portion of the boss l3 grips theouter cylindrical surface of the nozzle Ha with .sufiicient firmness toprevent leakage of the treating medium around said nozzle. As a resultof this relative axial adjustability, the nozzle may be inserted to anydesired extent without affecting the seal produced by the fiange 3 asand for the purpose above noted.

In the case of the permanently attached nozzle shown in Figs. 1 and 2,the exterior of the nozzle H is somewhat conical in form and the outersurface thereof blends into the outwardly curving surface of the centraldiaphragm iii.

In either case, the diaphragm is of such a pliable nature that thenozzle may follow and assume the general angle or course of the vaginalcavity, while the body of the seal l remains uniformly seated againstthe area surrounding the vaginal opening.

The nozzle H is provided with a longitudinal central channel I 5, theinner end of which terminates adjacent the closed end Nb of said nozzle.Communicating with the channel l5, adjacent the closed end I lb of thenozzle, is a series of laterally directed spray openings l6 whichcommunicate at their inner ends with the bore l5 and at their outer endswith longitudinally extending grooves H, I! formed in the outer surfaceof the nozzle ll inwardly spaced from the closed end Hb thereof.

The opposite end of the central channel I5b is formed in an elongatedboss I3a, which projects from the concaved side of the diaphragm illinto the recess of the base I and affords attachment for the fiuiddelivery tube l8 illustrated in Fig. 1, or for the neck of a hand bulbsimilar to the bulb l9 illustrated in Fig. 3.

The under side of the nozzle H is provided with a groove or channel 20which extends substantially from the outer closed end Hb-of the nozzleinto the diaphragm IU of the seal, said groove progressing in depth fromthe former toward the latter. The deeper end of the channel 20communicates with an opening 2| formed in and extending through a boss22 provided in the seal in the lower part of the diaphragm l0,immediately adjacent the deep elliptical suction channel 9, said opening2| affording a connection for a discharge tube 23, as illustrated inFig. 1.

The connections for the tubes I8 and 23 or hand bulb with the bossesI311, and 22'respectively may be made in the usual manner by means ofmetallic, hard rubber, or glass fittings (not 1 press the fiange 3uniformly into firm sealing contact with the fiesh and to control thedischarge opening 2| with the one hand while oper ating the hand bulb ortube-collapsing element 24 with the other hand.

When the device is being used by doctors or others on a patient in areclining position, the arrangement of the discharge opening 2| is suchthat drainage from the vagina through said discharge opening or tubeconnected thereto may be readily controlled without interfering with theoperation of the inlet control 24.

Obviously the seal for the adjustable nozzle Ha may also be providedwith a discharge opening with or without the drainage tube; and theadjustable nozzle Ha may be readily connected to the delivery tube 3without departing from 1.

producing and maintaining channel inwardly adjacent said fiange, and adiaphragm of concavo-oonvex form formed as a continuous integral part ofsaid flange and extending laterally beyond the channeled face of theseal and provided with a central enlarged boss on the concaved sidethereof, said boss having a nozzlereceiving opening extending throughfrom the concaved to the convexed face of the protuberance, said openingbeing of such diameter relative to the diameter of the nozzle as to gripthe a nozzle with sufiicient force to form a liquid seal between theouter surface of the nozzle and the inner surface of the opening whilepermitting longitudinal adjustment of the nozzle relative to thediaphragm.

2. A one piece single walled vaginal sealic'om- .55

prising a firm marginal flange with a suction producing and maintainingchannel inwardly adjacent said flange, and a diaphragm of concavo-convexform formed as a continuous inte- K gral part of said flange andextending laterally beyond the channeled face of the seal and providedwith a central enlarged'bos's on the con caved side thereof, said bosshaving a nozzlereceiving opening extending through from the 4 13. A onepiece single. walledvaginalsealcom- L715 prising a firm marginal flangeof progressively increasing thickness from diametrically opposite sidepoints of the seal toward the oppositely disposed ends respectively ofthe seal with a suction producing and maintaining channel inwardlyadjacent said flange and with the base of the channel disposedsubstantially midway between the opposite faces of the flangesubstantially uniformly from end to end of the seal, and a convexed domeformed as a continuous integral part of said flange and extendinglaterally beyond the channeled face of the seal and encircled by saidchannel and provided with a nozzle-receiving opening extending throughthe seal between the opposite faces thereof, said opening being of suchdiameter relative to the diameter of the nozzle as to grip the nozzlewith sufficient force to form a liquid seal between the outer surface ofthe nozzle and the inner surface of the opening while permittinglongitudinal adjustment of the nozzle relative to the diaphragm.

4. A one piece single walled vaginal seal comprising a firm marginalflange of progressively increasing thickness from diametrically oppositeside points of the seal toward the oppositely disposed ends respectivelyof the seal with a suction producing and maintaining channel inwardlyadjacent said flange and with the base of the channel disposedsubstantially midway between the opposite faces of the flangesubstantially uniformly from end to end of the seal, and a convexed domeformed as a continuous integral part of said flange and extendinglaterally beyond the channeled face of the seal and encircled by saidchannel and provided with a nozzle-receiving opening extending throughthe seal with the axis of said opening disposed at an angle to the planeof the seal, said opening being of such diameter relative to thediameter of the nozzle as to grip side points of the seal toward theoppositely disposed ends respectively of the seal with a suctionproducing and maintaining channel inwardly adjacent said flange and withthe base of the channel disposed substantially midway between theopposite faces of the flange substantially uniformly from end to end ofthe seal, and a diaphragm of concavo-convex form formed as a continuousintegral part of said flange and extending laterally beyond thechanneled face of the seal and provided with a central enlarged boss onthe concaved side thereof, said boss having a nozzle-receiving openingextending through from the concaved to the convexed face of theprotuberance, said opening being of such diameter relative to thediameter of the nozzle as to grip the nozzle with sufficient force toform a liquid seal between the outer surface of the nozzle and the innersurface of the opening while permitting longitudinal adjustment of thenozzle relative to the diaphragm.

6. A one piece single walled vaginal seal comprising a firm marginalflange of progressively increasing thickness from diametrically oppositeside points of the seal toward the oppositely disposed ends respectivelyof the seal with a suction producing and maintaining channel inwardlyadjacent said flange and with the base of the channel disposedsubstantially midway between the opposite faces of the flangesubstantially uniformly from end to end of the seal, and a diaphragm ofconcavo-convex form formed as a continuous integral part of said flangeand extending laterally beyond the channeled face of the seal andprovided with a central enlarged boss on the concaved side thereof, saidboss having a nozzle-receiving opening extending through from theconcaved to the convexed face of the protuberance with its axis disposedat an acute angle to the plane of the seal, said opening being of suchdiameter relative to the diameter of the nozzle as to grip the nozzlewith sufficient force to form a liquid seal between the outer surface ofthe nozzle and the inner surface of the opening while permittinglongitudinal adjustment of the nozzle relative to the diaphragm.

LEONA W. CHALMERS

